Shame about first set was that he clawed his way back to 5 all and then let it slip from his fingers. Darn serve again!

Did the serve get any better as the match progressed? It's odd as you'd think the serve is the one thing you can practise without match conditions and would have hoped that the work with Cahill would have strengthened it. Not read yet anything about how good Lendl was on serving.

Yes, third set fine and end of match serve stats 67% which is good for our Andy. I think it must be a matter of nerves at some level. It's a magnificent serve but it only just clears the net and must be vulnerable. If only they abolished "let" rule his percentage would be up in the nineties!

I don't know how many people here play tennis but all the practice serving does not prepare you for doing exactly the same in a competitive match - it's 90% mental. Practice sorts out your mechanics and placement but how you deal with your emotions you can only manage during a match.

I don't know how many people here play tennis but all the practice serving does not prepare you for doing exactly the same in a competitive match - it's 90% mental. Practice sorts out your mechanics and placement but how you deal with your emotions you can only manage during a match.

I don't so thanks for that bit of advice syc23. Of course, should have realised that. And good that it does sound like it was first match of the season nerves and more the 2nd than the 1st serve - always an achilles heel for Andy though it had been getting better I felt.